Suicidal Evaluation: The DEAD PIMP Assessment
It’s a difficult situation that just about every EMS provider has been faced with at some point. Someone, somewhere thinks a friend or loved-one wants to commit suicide and they call 911. You arrive on scene to find a healthy looking patient who is adamant that they have no desire to harm themselves or anyone else. They don’t want to go with you. And now, you’re faced with a challenging evaluation.
This is a situation that experienced mental health professionals can find difficult. You have very little mental health training and you’re being asked to make a complex prediction about the potential future behavior ...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 2, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
Test For Unconsciousness: The Sternal Rub
Ahhh the embattled sternal rub. Revered, reviled … the sternal rub is the Ann Coulter of medical interventions. Abrasive, annoying, loved by many, hated by many more. The subject of the usefulness of the sternal rub is bound to cause controversy in any EMS forum.
In other words … it’s a great subject for The EMT Spot.
Like many controversial assessments and treatments, the sternal rub (sometimes referred to as the sternum rub) got its bad-boy reputation more from its misuse than from its own shortcomings. Never-the-less, the technique does have its shortcomings.
Like so many other tools, it has its...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 2, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
The Art of The Nasopharyngeal Airway
I would surely rank the nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) as one of the most under-rated / under-utilized pieces of equipment in the EMT bag of tricks. They’re useful, simple and versatile. As a group, we tend to do a pretty good job oxygenating our patients, but I think we drop the ball on BLS airway adjuncts.
Most of our unresponsive or semi-responsive patients should be arriving at the ER with an NPA in place. If you’re bagging a patient they should have one … maybe two NPAs in place.
They’re fast, they’re friendly, they work much better on the semi-conscious and they don’t stim...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 2, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
6 Techniques To Nail The IV Every Time
Did you get the IV?
Sometimes it seems like your performance on the whole call can be reduced to the success or failure of the IV start. Rarely does the successful treatment of the patient hinge on a successful IV placement but sometimes it can certainly feel that way.
The best way to ensure that you’re ready when that make or break it IV start does come your way is to start a lot of them when the pressure is not on. If you wait until game day to practice, you’re a whole lot more likely to fail.
The single biggest factor that separates the IV virtuoso from the weekend hacker is practice and experience, so when...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 1, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
Rapid Diagnosis: Pinpoint Pupils
Abnormally constricted or “pinpoint” pupils are a great finding for our rapid diagnosis series. There are many things that can cause the pupil to abnormally dilate. Very few things will make the pupil abnormally constrict. Constricted pupils are a doorway to a very short list of ailments and with a bit of background you should be able to hang your hat on one fairly quick.
How So We Assess For “Pinpoint” Pupils?
Recall that the pupil should be mid-range and reactive under normal lighting conditions. When subjected to bright light, the pupil will constricted to reduce the volume of light entering the iris. In d...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 1, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
6 Techniques To Nail The IV Every Time
Did you get the IV?
Sometimes it seems like your performance on the whole call can be reduced to the success or failure of the IV start. Rarely does the successful treatment of the patient hinge on a successful IV placement but sometimes it can certainly feel that way.
The best way to ensure that you’re ready when that make or break it IV start does come your way is to start a lot of them when the pressure is not on. If you wait until game day to practice, you’re a whole lot more likely to fail.
The single biggest factor that separates the IV virtuoso from the weekend hacker is practice and experience, so when...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 1, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
Rapid Diagnosis: Pinpoint Pupils
Abnormally constricted or “pinpoint” pupils are a great finding for our rapid diagnosis series. There are many things that can cause the pupil to abnormally dilate. Very few things will make the pupil abnormally constrict. Constricted pupils are a doorway to a very short list of ailments and with a bit of background you should be able to hang your hat on one fairly quick.
How So We Assess For “Pinpoint” Pupils?
Recall that the pupil should be mid-range and reactive under normal lighting conditions. When subjected to bright light, the pupil will constricted to reduce the volume of light entering the iris. In d...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 1, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Steve Whitehead Tags: EMT Source Type: blogs
Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure
Lower high blood pressure with these effective home remedies that are easy to apply, whether you’re dealing with mild or more severe cases of the condition.
If you’re searching for natural ways to lower your blood pressure, a few home remedies may help.
From making some lifestyle changes to eating mindfully, these tips can help you get your numbers down.
Talk to your doctor before trying new treatments, and read for more information.
Quick Summary
Regular exercise can help lower blood pressure by making the heart stronger and more efficient.
The DASH diet is a tried-and-tested eating pa...
Source: The EMT Spot - November 1, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: bpscore-sibera Tags: Guides Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
Public Safety Agency Announces Major Improvements Since Implementing Aladtec
for Staff Scheduling and Workforce Management
Moving employee scheduling and other processes online, such as office forms,
improves efficiency and is a green initiative.
April 21, 2014 – Greenville, NC – When you discover something that makes your life easier it’s pretty hard to give it up. One EMS Director has been implementing the same administrative tool at agencies where he’s worked since 2008.
“I have been using Aladtec for staff scheduling, and other workforce management tasks, for eight years. I’ve introduced it in every service where I’ve been a Direc...
Source: The EMT Spot - April 30, 2016 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: administrator Tags: Research and News Source Type: blogs
Paramedics Demand Lawsuit Protection
A firefighter and paramedic advocacy group hopes to revive the “public duty rule” that protects first responders from getting sued by people they try to help. [Read the Whole Story Here] (Source: The EMT Spot)
Source: The EMT Spot - April 30, 2016 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: administrator Tags: Everything Else Source Type: blogs
